An injured kayaker spent last night in the bush after searchers failed to find him in the Whakarira Gorge near Hokitika yesterday.
The man, whose shoulder had been dislocated, waited on the riverbank with a friend.
A third member of the party went for help and raised the alarm about 8.30pm last night.
A rescue helicopter looked for the missing pair, but had not found them before night fell.
The search would resume this morning, police said.
